Southwest Minnesota State University vs. BSC

Deciding between Southwest Minnesota State University and Bismarck State College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN
  • BSC Bismarck, ND
  • Setting
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Rural Fringe
  • BSC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 8,214
  • BSC 4,206
  • Type
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Public 4 Year
  • BSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southwest Minnesota State University #897
  • BSC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southwest Minnesota State University -
  • BSC -
  • Status
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Non-profit
  • BSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • BSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • BSC $5,247
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • BSC $7,331
  • Room & Board
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $11,028
  • BSC $8,273
  • Average Net Price
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $15,547
  • BSC $10,462
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $8,674
  • BSC $5,049
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 94%
  • BSC 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2,811
  • BSC -
  • Admitted
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1,748
  • BSC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62.2%
  • BSC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22.2%
  • BSC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1020
  • BSC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 20
  • BSC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3.21
  • BSC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southwest Minnesota State University B+
  • BSC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Extremely Easy
  • BSC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • BSC
  • ACT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23
  • BSC
  • SAT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102
  • BSC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Test optional
  • BSC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027
  • BSC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1
  • BSC 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • BSC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
    • Engineering Technology (27%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Business (6%)
    • Construction Trades (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 39%
  • BSC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $41,200
  • BSC $49,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 66%
  • BSC 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $21,678
  • BSC $11,041
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $224
  • BSC $114

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 38%
  • BSC 50%
  • % Women
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62%
  • BSC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • BSC Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • BSC No
  • % White
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 80%
  • BSC 86%
  • % Asian
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • BSC 1%
  • % Black
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • BSC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 4%
  • BSC 3%
  • % Native American
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • BSC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • BSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3%
  • BSC 3%
  • % International
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • BSC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • BSC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 71%
  • BSC 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22%
  • BSC 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • BSC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • BSC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • BSC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • BSC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Yes
  • BSC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN with Bismarck State College in Bismarck, ND on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than BSC based on total student enrollment (8,214 students vs. 4,206 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, MN (Rural Fringe setting); Bismarck State College is in Bismarck, ND (Small City setting).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bismarck State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1; Bismarck State College 13:1.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. BSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or BSC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bismarck State College than Southwest Minnesota State University ($10,462 vs. $15,547).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bismarck State College are 25% lower than at Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,273 vs. $11,028).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 97.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSC (about $5,114 more per year; $10,361.00 vs. $5,247.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.3% higher at Southwest Minnesota State University than at Bismarck State College (about $3,030 more per year; $10,361.00 vs. $7,331.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than at Bismarck State College (94% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 71.8% larger than aid received by Bismarck State College students ($8,674 vs. $5,049).

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. BSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or BSC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BSC and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • Bismarck State College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southwest Minnesota State University - Test optional; BSC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. BSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwest Minnesota State University and BSC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Bismarck State College earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bismarck State College graduates have a $10,637 lower median loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates ($11,041 vs. $21,678).
  • Among borrowers, BSC graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates ($114 vs. $224).
  • More BSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.